Hamdok to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Relations With US Are Advancing, No Fear with Ethiopia

Hamdok to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Relations With US Are Advancing, No Fear with Ethiopia
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Hamdok to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Relations With US Are Advancing, No Fear with Ethiopia

Hamdok to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Relations With US Are Advancing, No Fear with Ethiopia

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said his country’s removal from the US terrorism list was very imminent, noting a “significant progress” in the relations with the United States.

He pointed to some pending points pertaining to compensation for the bombings of the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es-Salam.

“Even in this case, we have made great strides, and we expect to reach an end soon,” he stressed. “Since we came to power, we have been working to address the issue of terrorism, and we have made great progress, and we expect this file to be resolved soon.”

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamdok said the two countries had agreed to exchange ambassadors, but noted that the issue was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“We agreed on my visit to Washington last December to exchange ambassadors. America had not had an ambassador to Sudan for 23 years; so they decided to appoint an ambassador, and this is considered as major progress in relations between the two countries. I believe that the conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic led to delaying the appointment,” he remarked.

The Sudanese prime minister said he was seeking to establish “strong relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that go beyond aid to unlimited integration.”

He emphasized that the relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were “very good.”

“We commend the support that we receive from them, but we aspire for relations that rise higher than donations,” he underlined, calling on the two Gulf capitals to boost their investments in the African country.

“We seek to bring the Saudi and Emirati capitals to invest in our country with billions of dollars, because we have the capabilities and benefits that enable this integration to happen. We want this relationship to surpass the limits of aid, but rather go to broader horizons,” Hamdok told Asharq Al-Awsat.

On a different note, the Sudanese premier said he was not worried about an escalation with Ethiopia after the recent border tensions, stressing that the two countries had some mechanisms “that can help in dealing with the crisis.”

He stressed that his country was engaged in the Renaissance Dam and expected “very great benefits”.

“What we have done is to help the three parties stop the escalation and return to the negotiating table, to reach an agreement that would enable Ethiopia to fill the reservoir of the dam before beginning to fill the lake,” he explained.

On the internal level, Hamdok highlighted his ability to solve Sudan’s economic crises, saying: “If I were not convinced about my ability to tackle the economic crisis, I would not stay in my position for a day.”

“We are completely convinced that we are a country rich in many resources, and we inherited a completely collapsed economy; but with our unity and ability to address the local components and the outside world around us, we can create a climate in the short term that helps us overcome our problems,” he said.

Commenting on recent Security Council resolutions in response to the government’s request to establish a political mission for Sudan and extend the term of the UNAMID mission, Hamdok said: “We asked to send a political mission to Sudan… and the decision was met with approval from the international community and the Security Council. It is a mission to help us in the challenges of transition, especially the peace process.”

“This process is carried out based on the vision of the Sudanese government, and this is what the UN Security Council mentioned: that the process be carried out according to the preservation of national sovereignty,” he emphasized.

Asked about the peace process with armed groups, the prime minister noted that he was in direct and permanent contact with the leaders of the Revolutionary Front and other armed movements that were not involved in the negotiations.

“The Sovereign Council is part of the transitional authority. We are an integrated transitional government, and there is no competition between us,” he stated.

He continued: “We did not expect that peace would take so long; this is because of the increasing optimism over stopping the war and building peace, as a prerequisite to sustainable democracy.”

Asked about the government’s opinion on the recent tensions in Darfur between the army and the Sudan Liberation Movement, Hamdok said that since the beginning of the transitional period, clashes and problems of an ethnic and tribal nature in the states of Darfur, Port Sudan, Kassala, and Kadugli have not ceased.

He explained that these conflicts and clashes were due to the mass destruction that the ousted regime had created.

“These are challenges facing the transitional government, and they need a special solution… To stop this, we have developed a method based on law enforcement to impose state prestige,” he underlined.

Asked about his achievements nine months after the formation of the transitional government, the prime minister said: “We have set a program for the transitional period based on 10 priorities, the most important of which is the file of peace and the economy.”

He added that despite the slow pace of the peace process, “we believe it is moving in the right direction, especially the documents that we reached during the negotiations.”

Hamdok pointed to the country’s progress in agricultural production, saying: “The biggest government success was that of the winter agricultural season and the high productivity of the wheat crop. The government participated in it, but the credit goes to the farmers. What happened bodes well that we can achieve wheat sufficiency and even export it.”

He also pointed to the amendment of salaries, which has been neglected for a long time, in addition to tackling the liquidity scarcity, and other issues.



Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemen’s Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri, does not expect Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to stop even if the Gaza war ends. He also warns of rising tensions in the region, which could lead to a major conflict.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Daeri affirmed close coordination between Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. He praised Saudi Arabia’s key role in the coalition, highlighting its continuous support for Yemen.

Al-Daeri said there has been significant progress in unifying government-aligned military forces, with committees set up by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) establishing a joint operations authority.

Despite challenges, he remains optimistic that these efforts will help unify the military command against the common enemy — Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Al-Daeri warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are a serious threat to Yemen and the region. He noted that the Houthis are using these attacks to distract from their internal problems and are trying to capitalize on Yemeni sympathy for Palestine by claiming support for Gaza.

He added that the Houthis are unlikely to stop targeting international shipping, even if the Gaza war ends, and are constantly seeking new alliances with terrorist groups to strengthen their position.

Al-Daeri, accused Iran of fueling instability in Yemen by supporting Houthi militias for years, smuggling weapons and military experts to spread chaos without regard for regional stability.

On US relations, Al-Daeri said ties are good but military cooperation remains limited. He noted that US military aid, suspended in 2014, has not yet returned to previous levels.

Al-Daeri said his visit to Saudi Arabia was part of ongoing coordination with the Joint Operations Command and the Saudi Ministry of Defense to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

During his “productive” visit, Al-Daeri met with several military leaders, congratulated the new commander of the Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Salman, and held talks with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Al-Daeri emphasized the strong defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly during Yemen’s war in recent years.

He noted that the high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab Coalition members has significantly improved regional military readiness.

Al-Daeri said relations with Saudi Arabia are growing stronger, with both countries working closely together to fulfill their missions in the region.

He described defense cooperation as being at its peak, praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Arab Coalition.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided full support—military, financial, and moral. As the region’s strongest power, they have supported Yemen not just with resources, but also with strategic expertise and by fighting alongside us, even sacrificing their lives for our cause,” Al-Daeri told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Houthi militias have taken advantage of the ceasefire and the Saudi-led initiative, which later became a UN effort, to conduct hostile activities and assert their presence.

He referred to the Houthis’ actions as creating a “massive prison” for millions of Yemenis who do not want to live in their controlled areas.

Al-Daeri, described the situation in the region as dangerous, pointing to recent events in Gaza and Lebanon as signs of increasing tensions. He warned of the risk of an unprecedented regional war due to the rising violence and conflicts.

“What is happening is very alarming, especially with the recent events, including terrorist militias in Yemen, the unacceptable violence in Gaza over the past year, and the situation in southern Lebanon. This all signals the risk of an unusual war,” said al-Daeri.

Regarding potential outcomes, al-Daeri noted that Yemeni forces are ready for both war and peace. He acknowledged significant efforts to achieve peace but warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment. He also pointed out ongoing provocations from Houthis, which continue to lead to casualties.

"We are ready for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces. The past two years have seen a ceasefire, and the Arab Coalition is making significant efforts to achieve peace rather than resorting to war. However, this does not mean that conflict won’t resume; it could restart at any time,” explained al-Daeri.

“Despite the ceasefire and the presence of our forces, the legitimate troops have not fired back, yet the militias provoke us daily, resulting in casualties,” he added.

“Patience is a key quality of the legitimate authority in Yemen, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his colleagues in the Presidential Leadership Council. This patience reflects our readiness for the moment of truth, whether for peace or war—we are prepared,” asserted al-Daeri.